Defending MBA Rankings: Insights from QS Co-Founder – Poets&Quants

Last Updated on August 25, 2023 by Robert C. Hoopes

QS Defends MBA Ranking Amidst Criticisms

In a recent dispute, QS found itself defending its MBA ranking after being called out as one of the worst rankings by Poets&Quants, a prominent educational news source. Co-founder Nunzio Quacquarelli dismissed the criticisms, standing firmly behind the methodology used by QS to rank business schools.

According to Quacquarelli, QS’s ranking system provides valuable insights for prospective students and education leaders. However, concerns were raised by an academic at UC-Berkeley regarding the correlation between school rankings and the money spent on QS admission fairs and services. Unfortunately, Quacquarelli did not address these concerns.

The criticisms against QS’s methodology include its vagueness, questionable outcomes, and lack of transparency compared to rival rankings. While the QS MBA ranking is described as “unique,” with a focus on metrics important to Gen Z, it fails to incorporate the views of students and does not disclose survey response rates.

Additionally, the co-founder did not address a study that reveals a substantial increase in university rankings with frequent contracts with QS. This lack of transparency and reporting guidelines in its methodology has led to skepticism surrounding the QS MBA ranking.

Further concerns arise as QS does not disclose the number of employers surveyed, response rates, or how it calculates scores in its employer survey. The methodology also lacks clarity on how post-MBA salary data is obtained, providing only vague explanations for its metrics.

Many of the metrics used by QS are commonly reported by business schools and used in other rankings, making it questionable why QS’s ranking system stands apart. Nonetheless, QS claims that its methodology provides a unique lens for Gen Z students and enables innovative business schools to shine.

While this article does not include the top ten rankings for 2023 according to QS, it highlights the ongoing skepticism surrounding the methodology and transparency of the QS MBA ranking. As prospective MBA students consider their options, it is imperative to carefully evaluate the rankings and take them with a grain of salt.